Solma attends Academy College on scholarship

Cody Solma gets a congratulatory handshake from Academy College President Nancy Grazzini-Olson upon receiving the scholarship award for the Aircraft Dispatcher Course to the NBAA Schedulers and Dispatch program.

Since 2015, Academy College has donated an Aircraft Dispatcher Course to the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Schedulers and Dispatch scholarship program. This scholarship provides the recipient with all the necessary knowledge and practical experience to obtain and become an FAA Certificated Aircraft Dispatcher.

This year's recipient is Cody Solma. Cody was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Omaha to pursue a degree in Aviation. Cody also secured an aviation internship with a local engineering firm in Omaha. It was this internship that gave Cody the interest and exposure to the world of aircraft dispatching.

"I have always had a passion for flying airplanes and the aviation industry," Cody explained, "and I believed dispatching would be the next best thing."

Working at the engineering firm also allowed Cody to learn about the NBAA scholarship, for which he applied and was selected as the recipient. This scholarship allowed Cody to continue his career and attend Academy College to obtain his FAA Dispatcher Certificate.

"Academy College has been a wonderful experience for me," Cody reflected. "Although, it has been the most challenging educational goal to date, it's well worth it. The instructors, administrators, and staff have been there supporting me every step of the way.

"The best part of attending Academy College is the [small] instructor to student ratio, and how any one of [the instructors] will go out of his/her way to help the students succeed."

Cody will be sitting for his FAA Aircraft Dispatcher check towards the end of September and will be pursuing a career as an Aircraft Dispatcher.